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Activities of Daily Living

A child’s ability to engage in everyday activities can be negatively affected following exposure to a traumatic event. Activities of daily living are the basic tasks people perform daily to care for themselves and maintain their overall well-being (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). These activities include eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, and hygiene.

Children who have experienced trauma may be challenged in the following ways:

  • Not wanting to do everyday tasks

  • Problems with hygiene

  • Eating too much or too little

  • Being scared to do normal activities in some places

  • Not noticing when they’re hungry or need the bathroom

  • Trouble switching between activities

  • Fear of people or certain places

  • Difficulty with changes in routine

Some strategies you can implement to address the above effects include:

  • Know triggers

    • Find out what makes your child upset and try to avoid those things.

  • Create safety

    • Talk about what makes them feel unsafe and find solutions together.

  • Take small steps

    • Slowly introduce upsetting tasks, letting your child go at their own speed.

  • Use visuals and timers

    • These tools help your child know what to do and when.

  • Have regular mealtimes

    • Keep a routine and serve foods they like.

  • Make hygiene less stressful

    • Use soaps or shampoos they enjoy and try different locations if needed.

  • Let them choose clothes

    • Let them wear what feels good and slowly add new options.

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